Last year, I received a grant for two contrabass bars, C and G. These bars dramatically improved the ability of my students to hear and feel the beat, but they only work in the key of C. If we added D and A, we could play in two additional keys and the audience would be glad for the variety.
I teach approximately 550 kids every week in general and special music education classes, kindergarten through fifth grade.
My students love music and thrive through creativity. They don't only reproduce music, they offer ideas and insights that take their music to the next level. They are given the opportunity to make up their own dance moves, improvise on Orff instruments (xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels), and even decide on the form that their pieces will follow. These are students actively enjoying and learning about music, students who are developing a love for music that will follow them the rest of their lives.
My Project
I am requesting 2 contrabass resonator bars (D and A) to help keep the beat while playing in Orff ensembles. The music curriculum within our corporation is heavily influenced by Orff Schulwerk, a philosophy of music education that encourages instrument playing as well as singing in the classroom. This provides a well-rounded experience for all students, adding options that increase the retention of musical understanding, appreciation and skill. The challenge with Orff Schulwerk is acquiring the funds necessary to purchase the instruments, but at our school, parent volunteers and donors have generously provided most of the needed materials. We now have xylophones, but we still need two very important instruments called contrabass resonator bars. These instruments, also known as bass bars, allow the students to feel the beat and play together in time. The two bass bars, in this case D and A, are played by a student who can then lead the group at a steady tempo, a skill crucial to the success of any musical performance.
I feel extremely blessed to have a well equipped music classroom supported by parents and administrators who value music education.
Many people have chosen to make sacrifices and give to our program, and my students share my gratitude realizing that we have it better than most. We view music as an essential part of a well-rounded education, and we seek the funding of this project to increase our opportunities in performance. How nice it would be to perform in three keys rather than one!
More than a third of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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